Keeping up with the jones'

The Beijing Olympics have ended and the Olympic flag passed over to Britain. There is no question that China did a memorable job as the host nation leaving some big boots for Britain to fill.

The Beijing Olympic stadium known as the birds nest was an outcome of a worldwide design competition, innovative unique, memorable and distinctive. Britain's response, a bowl stadium on an island site surrounded on 3 sides by water that will seat 80,000 in 2012 as an athletics stadium and then later convert to a more easily maintained 25,000 seat venue for the future by removing the temporary seating. Which is good as the surrounding community will then be able to get its fair bit of use out of it afterwards, (unlike the millennium dome!).  The building commenced 2 months early to make sure that it will be finished on time (unlike Wembly stadium). To prevent any national embarrassment i suppose! A couple of travel idea's that have been declined in the past will also now get the go ahead to make getting around the capital easier for tourists and locals alike. Firstly free usable bicycles will be readily available for use on the streets and a new tube line first propositioned 30 years ago is set to be constructed. 

It does seem that Britain are making the effort nice and early with enthusiasm even if the British press are feeling anxious about how  we'll live up to China. Time will tell.